Family Bathroom | Before and After

Mentor LeAnne Bunnell, Principal of elle design, shares a drastic before and after!>>

Small dark and dreary. Not a spot to inspire you at the start of your busy day, right? Especially if your day involves gaining knowledge, building muscle and working out your imagination.

This tired bath was in need of an intervention. With dated tiles and dark wall colour, lack of appropriate lighting, and inefficient storage, this bath struggled daily to get the kids off on the right foot.

Voila! Bright clean and fresh!

The budget for this small bath had to remain small too but we didn’t want to sacrifice style.

Using the existing plumbing layout was key to keeping the budget on track. The judicious use of select finishes and savvy shopping brought just the right mix of impact and budget flexibility.

We added a deep soaker tub, stylish plumbing fixtures, hardy surfaces for the floor and counter, and squeezed in ample storage in a tall linen tower.

Brilliant colour was added with a Caribbean inspired glass mosaic in the shower and for the vanity backsplash. Add a dash of whimsy with art, serene wall colour and luxury towels, and these kids start the day with brighter outlook.

DO’s:

Add a little luxury for your wee ones with a soaker bath to a tub/ shower combination

Keep the scheme bright but neutral to make the transition to the tween and teen years smooth. At least as far as the bathroom goes; the other stuff is out of my control.

Mix high and low with tiles, plumbing fixtures, and lighting. Splurge on high impact colour and sparkle.

Use hooks instead of towel bars to keep the towels off the floor. Well, we can try, right?

Interior Design: LeAnne Bunnell Photography: Adrian Shellard

elle design, author of this feature, is a Interior Design firm in Calgary, Alberta. LeAnne would love to talk to you about designing a space expressly for you.

You can also find a full list of all our global mentors [ who are top professional interior designers ] on our Mentors Page.

LeAnne Bunnell brings an inspired and classic approach to designing interiors. In collaboration with associate trades and other professionals, LeAnne personalizes each space to suit her clients’ needs. Modern to rustic, sophisticated to family casual, she wields clean lines and considered details to compose elegant, quality interiors, anchored always by the unique taste and lifestyle of each client.